Older pedestrians in Dublin at highest risk on Irish roads

The RSA has revealed that pedestrians aged 65 and over have the highest risk of casualties on Irish roads, with Dublin having the highest numbers of fatalities from 2008 to 2015.

The start of January until the end of October this year saw 120 people killed on Irish roads, with the highest fatalities occurring in Dublin, Tipperary and Cork (including both drivers and pedestrians).

According to the RSA, between 2008 and 2015, 313pedestrians were killed in 308fatal road traffic collisions. Pedestrian fatalities accounted for 19 percentof the total road users killed during this time period.

Pedestrians aged between 13 and 17 have had the lowest number of fatalities between 2008 and 2015.

Fourteen percent of all fatalitiestook place between twelve and five o’clock in the morning on Saturday and Sunday alone.

Dr Aoife Kervick, policy and research analyst for the RSA said: “Pedestrian fatalities in Ireland are slightly lower than the European average, but are more or less on par.

“Bus stops are a particularly dangerous zone for pedestrians,” she said, “particularly if there’s an unofficial drop off from buses,” and other vehicles.

Tom Brijs is a professor for traffic safety and transportation sciences. Speaking during Irish Road Safety Week, he said: “It is estimated that by 2050, fatalities of those aged 65+ will increase by 13 percent.”

Changes in infrastructure and design, with longer crossing times for pedestrians, lower road speeds in urban areas, and pedestrian islands were some of the other measures suggested at an RSA lecture on increasing safety for older pedestrians.